Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to make improvements to (1) the Settle and Carlisle railway line, and (2) rail services between Leeds and Carlisle, in the short, medium or long term, with a view to returning the status of that line to a main line.

There are currently no plans in either infrastructure or service provision terms to return the Settle and Carlisle to a main line. Whilst the railway needs to balance passenger and stakeholder aspirations with the practical and economic viability of running additional services, ideas can always be put forward to Transport for the North for consideration. It should be noted that, as part of the current Northern Franchise, some additional evening and Sunday services have been added to the route.